Mystery Paradise: Wishing Power Demon
Chapter 322 - 321 The Secret of the World

Chapter 322: Chapter 321 The Secret of the World

"Hahaha..." Lucius glanced at him a few times, then burst into laughter, "The Duke is joking, we’re merely an Academy and have no direct competition with other companies. As for our peers... Newspapers and bookstores everywhere could count, but compared to the Panlogical Machine, they’re not on the same level at all. Why, does Your Grace perhaps wish to offer protection to our Academy?"

"If the Kingdom could be pacified, I would be able to do that. But unfortunately, there are still many remnants of nobility colluding with the Heretical Cult, and I really cannot spare the strength to protect your company."

"I understand. There will be longer days ahead; we are sure to have numerous opportunities for cooperation."

Lucius led Duke Longjiu to the main courtyard of the headquarters and then into an elevator that rivaled luxurious chambers. After inputting the password, the panel made clicking noises as the "room" began to move slowly downward.

"Such a large elevator is not even found in the Royal City," Wilson remarked.

"Actually, it was a freight elevator during construction. To build a protective shell for the Panlogical Machine, we needed a large elevator to move materials. It was only afterwards that it was converted into its current form, making full use of it," the other party explained, "But speaking of which... Aren’t your attendants coming down with you?"

"As far as I know, face-to-face inquiries are charged by the number of people. If they come down with me, wouldn’t that mean paying a lot more money?"

"Ah... Hahaha," Lucius was startled and then laughed along, "You’re quite the wit. A noble Duke like yourself wouldn’t possibly begrudge such a small amount of money."

"I’m not joking, though. We’re still at war, and money is needed everywhere; saving a bit where we can is still saving." Wilson took a seat on the sofa in front of him—just as imposing sitting as he was standing, he remained as steep as a cliff face even in a seated posture, "Besides, guards and bodyguards are only needed in dangerous places, and Glaik Academy is hardly a place of danger."

The elevator took almost ten minutes to come to a stop.

"How many levels underground are we?" the Duke asked curiously.

"Fifty floors. Of course... that’s just an equivalency in distance," the Chairman replied proudly, "This is probably the deepest basement in the Kingdom."

It was more than just a basement. As the two stepped out of the elevator, a vast underground space unfolded before them. It seemed to be located within a natural cavern, surrounded by a circular enclosed walkway made of steel plates. The inside edge of the walkway was uniformly equipped with beautiful glass windows, and through the glass, the true form of the Panlogical Machine was also revealed. It stood like a tower of steel at the center of the cave, and if it were a finger, the circular walkway where the two men stood resembled a ring placed upon it.

"It’s astonishing," Wilson Longjiu exclaimed sincerely, "Although I have heard of the great name of the Panlogical Machine long ago, it still seems unbelievable when I see it for myself."

The tower of steel was not lifeless.

The outer shell was like interlocking dragon scales, and steam would occasionally burst from the inside, as if it were breathing. Even more astonishing was the fact that it would occasionally shine with light... not the dim monotony of candlelight, but bright lights in various colors, red, green, blue, and purple; they would light up and then extinguish, creating an illusion of twinkling stars.

It wasn’t just a mere machine.

The Panlogical Machine was like a living thinker.

The two arrived at a quarter of the way down the circular walkway. Here was a door leading to another room furnished with sofas and a desk. Lucius didn’t proceed any further but gestured for the Duke to enter, "This is the inquiry room. You can stay here for thirty minutes, and the number of questions is unlimited. When the time is up, I will come to take you away."

"Isn’t there still some distance from here to the Panlogical Machine?" Wilson pointed towards the steel tower, "Can’t I go over there?"

"I’m sorry, only the board members can approach the Panlogical Machine itself, and there have to be at least three present to do so," Lucius shook his head regretfully, "Even since I took over as the rotational Chairman, I’ve never been to its depths. Moreover, you don’t need to be so close to the Panlogical Machine; in this room, there’s a special device for communicating with it."

"It seems you’re really unwilling to reveal even a little secret," Wilson laughed, "Well, then start the timer now."

He walked into the room and Lucius personally closed the door for him.

At first glance, the interior appeared no different from a standard guest room, albeit somewhat smaller; the decor was absolutely luxurious. On the side facing the Panlogical Machine was a wide bay window stretching up to a horn-like contraption from the top, clearly designed so the guest could face the Panlogical Machine and conduct their inquiries.

Wilson also noticed that the three walls of the room were adorned with many portraits. He went forward to look and discovered they were portraits of famous people, with the dates of their visits to Glaik Academy headquarters indicated below each photo.

Spending fifty thousand Serirs to have one’s name on a wall is indeed a clever business idea.

The Duke skillfully took out a bottle of red wine from the liquor cabinet, poured himself a glass, and then walked to the floor-to-ceiling glass window. Across, the Panlogical Machine flickered with green lights, as if waiting for his inquiry.

"With such a distance between us, do you think it’s possible?"

He reached into his coat and pulled out a palm-sized copper block, then raised it high and placed it atop the horn.

At the same time, the mechanical typewriter nearby began tapping on its own.

"Unable to understand the question, please rephrase."

The copper block began to deform.

The edges split into many metal fragments, and then it lifted itself up. These metal pieces moved freely, resembling the appendages of an arthropod. They rotated around the mouth of the horn for a bit and then burrowed into the pipe hole, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

"It seems possible."

Wilson Longjiu laughed, sipped his red wine, and leisurely looked at the Panlogical Machine, "How long have you been dead? Is this your graveyard?"

Paper kept sliding out.

"Unable to understand the question, please rephrase."

"Unable to understand the question, please rephrase."

"Even though you’re dead, your legacy is still being exploited, creating an endless stream of wealth for others. Sadly, under the guise of bringing knowledge to the world, they are, in reality, monopolizing it. Like me standing here... I don’t need your solutions, yet I’m in the optimal position to ask questions, while many who thirst for knowledge are turned away by the Academy due to their modest means."

"Unable to... understand..."

The speed of the typewriter slowed down.

"No matter, I’ll reuse your legacy to bring new changes to the world. If divinities were truly born to benefit mankind, then I shall not disappoint you."

Steam suddenly sprayed out from between the Panlogical Machine’s casing.

A piercing alarm blared through the underground space!

"What have you done!?" Lucius’s roar came from the ceiling, "Why has the Panlogical Machine stopped responding!"

"Oh? So you can hear me speak... That’s a violation of a guest’s privacy," Wilson casually replied, "If I really did ask something confidential, wouldn’t I be at your mercy?"

"No... no matter what you’ve done, you won’t be leaving the company’s premises today!" Lucius had no more regard for polite language, "Duke Longjiu, we shall see!"

Rumble rumble...

Accompanied by a series of crisp bursts, the Panlogical Machine’s casing began to fall off, dropping towards the abyss like shedding scales!